The Press., 1887-09-15
AT HIGH NOON.

There was not more daring and active scout in Bazalne's army Ehan Pierre Danton. -%e- es.-- -
 When Pierre volunteered to slip into QuinquambO, to see what the Mexicans were doing, it never occurred to him that there was the slightest danger.
 QuinQuambO was q little mountain will lage, with R small garrison, and Pierre determined to appear in the role of de- serter. The son of 8 Spanish mother, he did not look much like Frenchman, and spoke the language of the country like Q native.
 But there was one thing that the scout had not thought of. Col Campos, then commanding the post of Quinquambo, had served on the eastern coast in the early part of the war. If Pierre had known this fact he would have blown out his brains rather thaa play Che spy in the vii cinity of the terrible Campos.
 At sunrise the Frenchman walked bold ly into the village and gave himself up to the first sentinel he met. His story wAa plausible enough. He had lost faith in Maximilian and his cause, and had grown weary of hard fight ing and scAnty ratiOns. Moreover, he had fallen in love with 3 black eyed senor- lta, and could no longer bear arms against Mexico.
 The sentinel called 6 corporal, and the story was repeated.r To these simple sol diers it seemed that the deserter was tell ing the truth, and nothing but the truth.
 ''Ah, that French devil, Baxainei'' said the corporal, ''he is frightened, is he notp"
 "COnarade," replied Pierre, ''you have spoken truly. Bazaine Is in despair. His men are desertipg by hundreds. They have nothing to eat, and the usurper is without money to pay them"
 ''In a few weeks they will be driven into the sea," ," said the enthusiastic cor poral.
 ''You speak like prophet" answered the spy.
 In the presence of Col Campos the Frenchman measured his words. The veteran listened without showing any in terest or surprise His brown, leathery lace never changed it's expression, and his eagle eyes were apparently fixed upon the ground.
 "And you would serve the republicS'' he asked, cOldly.
 'Try me-" was the enthusiastic re- sponse.
 "How am to know that your story Is truel"
 ''Let me swear" began Pierre.
 "NoW shouted the colonel in voice of thunder.
 The officers and soldiers gave start of surprise, and for the first time Pierre felt uneasy.
 ''Bind him hand and footF' was the un- expected order.
 Despite his protestations two men car ried out the colonel's instructions, and then braced the prisoner in . sitting pos ture against 8 convenient wall.
 "A year ago." said Campos, 'I cap tured that fellow near Vera Cruz. shot of the little finger on his right hand, and he marked mo here on the forehead with his saber. The villain escaped that night, but another prisoner told me all about him. He Is not & soldier. He is Q spy. He has caused more trouble than any other man in Baxaine's army. Now, Pierre Danton, what have you to say?"
 ''The colonel is mistaken" {" said Pierre. ''I never sow him before, and am no spy. My name is Jean Rouvills."
 'IOokW exclaimed a soldier.
 A glance showed that the prisoners right little finger was missing.
 "Only . coincidence muttcred Pierre.
 "Guard him well," said the colonel ''No court martial is wanted heEe," and the grim sOldier walked of.
 Securely pinioned as he was, Pierre saw that he could not escape. His eyes roved restlessly about, but there was nothing to encourage him.
 s'The barbarians," he growled. ''They will butcher me in cold blood. doubt whether they will be kind enough to hang me. That Campos looks like fiend, and the chances are that he is even now in- venting some diGboEcal torture. We'll, 1t is the fortune of war" QuinQuambo did not look very interest ing to the spy aS he sat there propped up against the eolonel's headquarters. There An~r around it, except on one side, where they had been destroyed by ire. There were no citizens. The inhabitants had 0ban- doned the town, leaving 1t to the garrison.
 ''There are not more than 300 of the yellow raScals, " unused the spy. "Lordi Wouldn't like to see some of our cavalry come along. They would take the place in the twinkling of an eye."
 Just then two soldiers came along, and lifting Pierre in their arms, carried him to the center of the plaza. The captive at first thought that his hour had come but the men proceeded i'm sullen silence to tie him to the mouth of the solitary cannon, an old fashioned twelve pOunder, pointed at the vacant side of the square. They lashed him with his breast to the muZzle of the gun SO securely that 1t was tmpoS- sible for hirn to move.
 Pierre thought of the brutal British fashion of blowing Indian rebels from the mouths of cannon and wondered whether he was to be seryGes>in the same way.
 ''It will be talked about all over Mex ico," said Col. Campes. coming up. "The French will get it into their heads that they are all to be treated in this way, and very few will be willing to face such 8 death"
 ''Comrade," said Pierre to one of the soldiers after the colonel had gone, ''does he mean it!"
 'sWhen the monday sun strikes that" replied the soldier, fit will be all over"
 Pierre looked and noted an iron frame work over the breech. of the gun. On the top of this was a round object so bright and dazzling that 1t made his eyes blink.
 'I do not understand, |" he said.
 '"The burning glass there,'' ,'' explained the soldier. 'fs so placed that it Ares the powder exactly at noon. 1t never fails" The victim shuddered. There was something horrible in the idea of being killed by the bright luminary whose rays had all his life given him light and warmth.
 He knew that even in the large cities of Mexico what was called the midday gun was fired in this ingenious fashion during the dry season. For six months in the year there was never 8 cloud in the sky, and the action of the lens was aS sure as fate itself. ...
 The guard paced up and down his beat, and Pierre was left to his meditationS.
 He struggled until his strength was gone, trying to loosen his bonds, but 1t was useless.
 His head fell upon his breast, and he